News

Obasanjo Says Continuity Vital For Effective Reforms In Civil Service

Published

4 months ago

July 30, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that there must be continuity for any reforms to be effective in Nigeria.

The former President stated this at the Aig Imoukhuede Foundation Annual Workshop with the theme “Rethinking Reforms, focusing on Why Many Reforms Fail In Nigeria and What We Can Do About Us”, on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to Obasanjo the greatest pain of reform is discontinuity and that the best thing for any reform would be for the initiator, the owner, the executor, the driver and the sustainer to be continual.

“Any break in continuity means virtually the end of reform. And then one thing we must understand is reform is a lifelong thing. The process of reform, even in your daily life, in your own life, you are reforming.

“You are making adjustment. So why should it be difficult? I don’t believe that it should be difficult. When I was looking for debt relief, one of the things that they told me as I went around the world is reform.

“Now, the point I am making is that reform is continual. It is not a destination. It is a journey”, he stated.

Former President Obasanjo also said there is the need for recognition of technocrats in the civil service, stateinh that they play a crucial role in driving reforms and effective governance.

He explained “Technocrats have power, and we must recognise that”, even as he’d referred to the Permanent Secretaries and other civil servants as the tetechnocrats.

Her added: “And that journey must continue. Now, I have met and I have had to deal with some of the best in the public service of this country. And we have, and from the point you have made, it will appear that those that I have met and dealt with, you still have people like that in the service today.

“The point is that we need as good men and women in the public service as we need in the private sector. And the public service, if you look very hard, as I had looked when I had the opportunity, the public service contains some of the best men and women in every sense of the word that you can find in this country. The question is that some of them are frustrated.

“Some of them are inadequately rewarded. And this we have to take note of and correct where we need to correct. The second point, or the third point I want to make, for the public service, and it is the entire public service, which means the executive, the legislative, the judiciary, and the technocrats.

“Normally, we tend to leave the technocrat. And that’s a mistake. They have power”.

According to him, for any reform to succeed there must be collaboration between political heads and technocrats.

“Reform requires political heads and technocrats working together, respecting and understanding each other. That’s when you can have real reform.

“Why many reforms in Nigeria, why many reform fails in Nigeria, and what we can do about it. Outgoing Head of Service, I want to thank you for all that you are doing and all that you have done and all that remains to be done”, he asserted.

In her address, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Esan, acknowledged that there are challenges and impediments in the implementation of successful reform programmes in Nigeria.

She noted that there is need for the reform action to deal with those challenges and listed them.

“The first is a lack of inclusive implementation strategy framework. Poor funding and inadequate budgetary provisions in the MTAs to fund the implementation of reforms.

“Lack of skilled manpower. Poor communication at planning and implementation stages. Poor or total lack of ownership of reforms by sub-nationals.

“Poor involvement of citizens. Lack of synergy between the public and private sector organizations. Lack of synergy amongst implementing MTAs.

“Policy somersaults and rivalry and conflict of interest even among government institutions. Some others include lack of political will and ownership to support reform implementation. Resistance to change.

“Poor ICT infrastructure. Political interferences in bureaucratic processes. Dwindling support by partners.

“Lack of legislation to legalize and institutionalize reforms. Lack of institutional capacity. Weak governance structures around the reform processes.

“Inadequate follow-through mechanisms for implementation of reforms. And lastly, a lack of shared wisdom, vision on national development among others. And so with all these impediments, barriers to reforms, in 2020, the Office of the Head of Service had an opportunity to review the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan”, Esan stated.

She revealed that efforts made to address these challenges, includes wide stakeholder consultation, governance structure for reform initiatives, and capacity building.

The HoS noted the key elements for successful reform pprogrammes which she identifies as “Systems and support structures, partnerships, high-level monitoring, capacity building, compensation systems, and change management strategy are crucial for success”.

She also acknowledged the progress made in re-engineering the civil service, saying, “It is essential to recognize and celebrate the good work of our officers and partners while sanctioning indiscipline and poor performance.”

In his welcome address, the chairman Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede highlighted the importance of efficient and motivated public service in achieving good governance, production and distribution of public goods, formulation and implementation of economic policy, and management of public expenditure.

He noted that Nigeria’s current Human Development Index ranking of 161 out of 189 countries is a reflection of the performance of government over several decades.

He emphasised the need for a strong public service, saying, “This is what is holding us back. And you would agree that there’s a correlation between the strength of a country’s public sector and its strength as a nation.”

Aig-Imoukhuede also highlighted the foundation’s efforts to transform public service delivery, including building a critical mass of public sector leaders, providing technical support and funding for digitization efforts, and upskilling thousands of workers in the civil service.

“It’s simple. There’s nothing you can do about it. This is why all nations in the world have a continuing focus on ensuring that their government works.

“This is the aim of government reform, to create a government workforce of the size and with the skills, and it doesn’t end there, with the incentives, ethos, and accountability needed to provide quality public services and carry out the functions stated in Chapter 2 of the Nigerian Constitution. This is what is holding us back. And you would agree that there’s a correlation between the strength of a country’s public sector and its strength as a nation.

“As a result, the most important objective of any nation in the 21st century is to have an effective and efficient public service. It is with this belief in mind that my wife Ofoe and I founded the Aike Wakode Foundation. We are convinced that improved public services lead to better outcomes for our people, communities, and economies.

“Through our support, the service has successfully digitized thousands of files, automated 300 processes, acquired hundreds of new digital devices. In addition, our collaboration with Microsoft, we are upskilling thousands of workers in the civil service. A key area of our support to the civil service is the culture change program.

“To change the mindset of this key constituency, we provide communication training, culture change campaign videos, and ongoing assistance for the publication of official newsletters. We’ve helped to develop the civil service culture handbook, better than actually many of the culture handbooks I’ve seen in the private sector, but we must make it work, that applies the values, behaviors, and practices that are essential for delivering the state’s chapter 200. A key element of our foundation’s theory of change is to ensure that every Nigerian citizen takes ownership of the critical need to reform the public service.

“It is not their public service, it is your public service, it is our public service, and understand that as it strengthens, you strengthen as well. So we must join hands, come together, and make it work. This commitment brings us to the purpose of this gathering today, to discuss the topic, rethinking reforms, why many reforms fail in Nigeria, and what we can do about it”, he stated.

The Chairman therefore called on stakeholders to come together and commit to reform the public service, even as he said, this conversation does not end here. And indeed, the Nigerian Public Sector Reform Project reboots here.

News

Core Public Servants hail Tinubu for appointing thoroughbred Procurement officer, Adedokun as BPP DG

Published

17 minutes ago

November 15, 2024

Austin Ojomah

A group under the aegis of Core Public Servants, CPS hail President Bola Tinubu for appointing Dr Adebowale Adedokun, a thoroughbred Procurement officer as the Director General of Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP.

CPS in a congratulatory letter signed by Kudirat Akindero to Adedokun lauded President Tinubu for following due process and picking the most qualified to run the affairs of the soecialised agency.

In the letter, the ADSC said:

“Congratulations to Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, PhD (MCIPS, CMILT), on his appointment as the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

“This significant achievement reflects his extensive expertise and unwavering dedication to advancing public procurement in Nigeria.

“With over 20 years of robust experience in public service, Dr. Adedokun has made substantial contributions to procurement reform.

“His distinguished academic background includes a doctorate in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, complemented by four master’s degrees in Procurement, Finance, Technology, and Transportation Management.

” This diverse educational foundation equips him with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities inherent in procurement processes.

“In his career, Dr. Adedokun has held pivotal roles, including serving as a National Consultant for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on public procurement reforms.

“He represents Nigeria in the International Research Study on Public Procurement (IRSPP) and serves as a World Bank Resource Person on Sustainable Procurement. His commitment to capacity building is evident in his training of over 4,000 federal and state government procurement professionals nationwide.

” Additionally, he has been instrumental as the focal point officer for the UN Women Project aimed at empowering women in procurement in Nigeria and as the Project Coordinator/Procurement Node for the SPESSE – World Bank Project.

“Dr. Adedokun’s professional affiliations are extensive, including membership in the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), UK; Chartered Membership in the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT); Fellowship in the Institute of Strategic Management Nigeria (ISMN); Fellowship in the Institute of Management Consultants (ICMC), Nigeria; membership in the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (ACArb); Fellowship in the Nigeria Institute of Training & Development (NITAD); membership in the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM); and membership in the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

In recognition of his consistent contributions to reform, Dr. Adedokun was honored with a Certificate of Special Recognition by USAID’s Nigerian Reforms Project in July 2009.

As he assumes the role of Director-General of the BPP, Dr. Adedokun’s extensive knowledge and experience are anticipated to significantly contribute to the agency’s strategic repositioning.

” His leadership is expected to advance efficiency, transparency, and accountability within Nigeria’s public procurement system.

Once again, congratulations to Dr. Adebowale Adedokun on this well-deserved appointment.

News

Brain Drain, Infrastructure, Resource Allocation Challenges Of Health Sector – Reps

Published

38 minutes ago

November 15, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has highlighted the detrimental impact of the mass migration of health workers from Nigeria, describing it as a major challenge to the country’s healthcare system.

The Chairman, House Committee on Health Institutions, Rep. Amos Magaji, stated this during a public hearing on 16 bills aimed at establishing various health institutions, on Thursday in Abuja.

Rep. Magaji underscored the need for better distribution of healthcare facilities, particularly in rural areas, to address population growth and healthcare gaps.

He noted, “Recently, there has been an enormous migration of doctors, nurses, and other health workers in search of ‘greener pastures,’ leaving Nigeria’s health sector severely understaffed. To improve the sector, we must invest in human resources, medical intelligence, and the administrative appointment of capable persons based on merit.”

The Chairman also brought to light the infrastructural deficiencies in healthcare institutions across the country, citing inadequate funding, lack of maintenance, and insufficient equipment as recurring issues.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, represented by Dr. Jimoh Olawale Salahudeen, in his submission warned against the duplication of health institutions, and stated that such efforts would strain the already scarce resources.

He explained, “Existing Federal Teaching Hospitals and Medical Centers in Nigeria, including those in the North West, already provide cardiovascular care and related services. Establishing a new institute would add financial burden without addressing the core issues.”

Pate also acknowledged the migration of health workers and the need for a stronger workforce to handle emerging health challenges.

“The Federal Ministry of Health supports the establishment of new institutions but insists on considering geographical spread, population density, and disease burden in proposed locations,” he added.

The hearing emphasised the need for balanced development in the healthcare sector, adequate funding for existing institutions, and policies to retain health professionals in Nigeria.

News

Access Bank (UK) Limited to Acquire AfrAsia Bank Limited

Published

54 minutes ago

November 14, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

Access Holdings PLC has announced that its subsidiary, The Access Bank UK Limited (“Access UK”), has signed a binding agreement to acquire a majority stake in AfrAsia Bank Limited, the third-largest bank in Mauritius by total assets.

Mauritius, known for its strong financial sector, which contributes 13.4 per cent to its GDP, offers Access UK a strategic base to grow its personal and corporate banking services.

This was contained in a statement by its Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, made available to Naijablitznews.com on Thursday.

According to Ekwochi, the acquisition will also position Mauritius as a hub for Access Bank’s trade finance operations, enhancing its ability to manage cross-border transactions across Africa and internationally.

AfrAsia Bank, as of June 30, 2024, reported total assets of over $5.7 billion and a net profit after tax of $152.4 million, underlining its solid financial position.

**Key statements on the acquisition:**

– Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna, speaking on the acquisition said: “This acquisition is a crucial step in our African growth strategy, strengthening our position as a top Pan-African financial institution. Mauritius’ role as a financial hub aligns with our vision to unlock opportunities that drive trade, support businesses, and promote economic inclusion across the region.”

Also Managing Director of Access Bank UK, Jamie Simmonds, stated: “AfrAsia Bank’s strong balance sheet and established brand in Mauritius give us a solid platform for sustainable growth. This deal supports our strategy to diversify earnings and provide clients with seamless access to global markets.”

Access Bank UK aims to promote sustainable growth, deliver innovative financial solutions, and support trade between Africa and the world.

The acquisition process will be finalized in the coming months, with updates provided as needed.